Who Is This?

He’s so simple, yet so complex.  His message is easy to understand, yet it’s so deep that we must keep studying it.  His words are so comforting, yet some of His teachings are so hard.  His presence fulfills me, yet it convicts my heart of sin. 

He’s so wonderful, yet sometimes so difficult to follow.  His words transform my mind, yet pierce my very soul.

He grants miracles to some yet others must suffer.  He is the Sacrificial Lamb, yet He is the Lion of Judah.

He allowed mere men to spit on Him and crucify Him, yet He walked out of the grave three days later.

His church is persecuted, yet it grows.  His people are sinners, yet forgiven and sanctified by His blood.    

He came to earth to save the lost, but when He returns He will come as Judge.

His Kingdom is spiritual, yet He will rule over His physical Kingdom on earth for 1,000 years. 

The first time He came to earth, He was clothed in human flesh, a baby in a manger, but when He comes the second time He will return in full glory and victory to put an end to sin forever.

Who is this?

He’s irresistible yet we resist Him.

He’s in control of everything, yet we cling to our puny control.

He’s good, yet we don’t trust Him.

He fills us with peace, yet we prefer conflict.

He frees us from the chains of sin, yet we allow our flesh to rule.

He gave His life to save us, yet we take His sacrifice for granted.

He promises us eternal life, yet we love our earthly life too much.

He gives us hope, yet we focus only on what we can see.

Who is this?

The disciples asked this important question after a terrifying event.  They were in a boat heading to other side of the Sea of Galilee.  Suddenly there was a furious storm; the waves crashed over the side of boat and started filling it with water.  While this was happening, Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat.  The disciples woke Him up and frantically asked Jesus, “Don’t you care if we drown?”

Mark 4:39-41 tells us, “He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the waves, ‘Quiet, be still!’  Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.   He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid?  Do you still have no faith?’  They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this?  Even the wind and the waves obey Him!’”

The disciples had seen Jesus drive out demons and heal people of diseases.  They witnessed that He forgave the paralytic of his sins and healed him.  They saw the crowds of people following Him.  They listened to Jesus as He taught through parables. 

Then they saw Him speak to nature, a furious storm, a power that no man can control.  And immediately, the wind was calm and the sea was still.  Experienced fishermen know that the underlying currents would take hours to become calm.  But the sea was completely still. 

Who is this?

It’s one thing to have special ability to heal but to have power over nature?  Only the creator of the world could have power over creation!  Only God could control the wind and the seas. 

Who is this?

Could this be God Himself …. here .… in the boat .… with us?

After the storm, Jesus went on to raise a young girl from the dead.  He fed the 5,000 and did many more miracles.   Then there came a moment (Mark 8:29) when Jesus looked at Peter and asked him directly, “Who do you say that I am?” 

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah”

The Messiah!  The promised Deliverer of the Jewish nation, the Savior, Anointed One, Lamb of God, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, Lord of Lords, King of Kings…… the Christ.

So human, yet so divine.

Jesus

Who do you say He is?